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Interviewing Fun Fun Fun Fest: Indian Jewelry, Shrouded in Mystery
Sunday, November 7
Waterloo Park (403 E. 15th)
varies
[info] | [tickets]
Houston's Indian Jewelry is a tough band to nail down - from their droning ambient music to their cryptic website, it's clear that these folks don't want to be put into any kind of box. The two core musicians, Tex Kerschen and Erika Thrasher, have an interesting way of describing how the band name was chosen as well: "It’s sort of this idea of the underdog, the victim, the receivers of bullshit, of oppression." On tour right now with Holy F*ck, Tex took some time out to talk more with Austinist about the band, Houston's music scene, and intentional mystery.
How did you settle on your sound? Did you go looking for it or did it find you? And how do you see it evolving over time?
Love music. Love listening to it and love making it. Love sound. Love hearing it and messing with it. Some bands, usually more successful ones, operate with prefabricated intentions. Not us.
From a recent BrooklynVegan post: "Indian Jewelry was the surprise face-melting of the night, summoning spirits at Music Hall with an awesomely loud and heavy set that mixed the occult with the industrial. Better experienced live than on record." What are your thoughts on experiencing Indian Jewelry on record versus a live show?
Condescending drivel. We get a lot of that since we're from Houston and that's a few miles off the radar. A lot of people don't trust their own judgment and experience so they have to qualify all their statements about us. Live, this much is true, we're either amazing or a complete let-down. On record you can listen for yourself and make your own calls. I stand by each of our records. We put a lot more time working on our records than we do into practicing.
There seems to be an element of mystery in everything you guys do, from the music itself to the sparse official website and masked press images. Is this intentional?
There's already way too much of us on the internet. We've toured a little too much. A guy at one of our shows on this tour told us that we should be more exclusive. Usually we'd lay into someone for being that presumptuous, but it has come to the point where we agree. After this festival we're returning to the creative side of the world, where things are shrouded.
In an interview with LA Record earlier this year: "We’re going through a lot of changes right now; I think you might even see a name change coming up soon. We’re kind of past Indian Jewelry." Any more developments on the name front?
Certainly.
What are your favorite venues to play in Houston? Do they differ from your favorite ones to go see shows?
We play anywhere they'll have us which is to say that Houston is more difficult for us than some other places. We did a thing a couple years ago where Erika put together an Indian Jewelry band and show in Los Angeles the same night that Brandon put together one in Chicago. I was to do the same thing the same night in Houston but I couldn't get IJ booked anywhere. I guess I forgot to send in our demo.
I go to a lot of shows at Notsouh and Superhappyfunland. When we have an agent we can sometimes get booked at the Mink, Walter's, and Mango's (which is now operating at Fitzgerald's.) So there's that.
Which Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 band are you most excited to check out and why?
We've been on the road for two months now and we haven't had a chance to study the bill yet. I used to jam the Suicidal Tendencies "Join the Army" tape on endless repeat when I was a young skate rat, so I'll be checking them out. Weird Al gonna attract everyone. Gwar too. Maybe you can do a follow-up q & a and we'll make a full report.
Catch Indian Jewelry this Sunday at 1pm on the Blue Stage during Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010.
